Flattening a 3D globe onto a 2D piece of paper (like a map) is impossible without causing distortion, or changes, to the size, shape, distance, or direction of objects on the map. The choice of map projection changes how we perceive and understand the surface of the earth, and different map projections are good for different things. For instance, the Mercator projection preserves shape and direction (perfect for sailors), while the Gall-Peters projection preserves area, so the size of continents